Alternative venues allow eisteddfod to go ahead

Overwhelming community support has enabled the West Gippsland Music and Drama Eisteddfod to be staged this year in multiple venues following news last week the new West Gippsland Arts Centre would not be ready in time.

Compulsory fire protection works to be undertaken as part of the arts centre redevelopment will delay its planned re-opening.

The eisteddfod and a Warragul Regional College school production were the first bookings for the new venue.

While the eisteddfod has confirmed alternative venues, WRC is still assessing options.

Eisteddfod president Meredith Davey said an article in The Gazette last week had led to an overwhelming community response that will enable them to proceed with the event.

The eisteddfod will go ahead as planned, but disciplines will be spread across a number of venues. Because of accessibility issues and other special needs, the para-eisteddfod sections will be held in September once the arts centre re-opens.

Ms Davey said the choirs and instrumental ensembles would be held at Lardner Park and they were very grateful this facility was being made available at a rate they could afford.

She said other disciplines would be held at school auditoriums at St Paul’s and MaristSion while Trafalgar High School will host the rock band sections.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the community’s response. It’s been a huge week and a lot of extra work by our volunteers.

“We are really appreciative of the support of the community, Lardner Park and schools.

“It is a better outcome than we expected and that’s a result of a great community effort.

“This is the second year that we have had to be creative with our venues and it creates a lot of extra work moving from one venue to another,” she said.

Warragul Regional College principal Paul van Breugel said the delay was obviously an inconvenience but they knew there was always a risk of being one of the first bookings.

“Our staff are working hard on plan B and the shire and the arts centre staff have been bending over backwards to help us,” he said.

Mr van Breugel said his staff met with Lardner Park staff on Friday and they were discussing it as a possible alternative for their August 10 and 11 production of We Will Rock You.

He said the college was keen to hold the production at a local facility to maintain it as a local event.

Mayor Joe Gauci said last week the delayed re-opening may be only a week or so, but it would impact the early bookings.

He said they were not lengthy delays and while they anticipated the arts centre would still re-open in August, the timing would affect the eisteddfod and Warragul Regional College.

Cr Gauci said there were some fire proofing works that needed to be undertaken to ensure fire protection requirements complied with building codes and regulations.